Why This Zara T-Shirt Was Pulled From Stores

‘Are You Gluten Free?’ t-shirt fueled a petition, which received over 50,000 signatures in less than a week

Zara

Shirt was perceived as trivializing celiac disease by portraying it in a fashion statement.

Though ‘gluten-free’ has become a buzzword in recent times, clothing brand Zara took the ‘trend’ perhaps a bit too far by incorporating it into a piece of clothing. Its ‘Are You Gluten Free’ t-shirt sparked controversy, especially among those suffering from celiac disease.

In response, Marta Casadesús began a petition, which gained over 50,000 signatures in less than a week, according to the International Business Times. A comment on the petition reads, “Celiac disease is not a fashion statement, nor should you make fun of the disease because of the strictness of the gluten-free diet and the problems that can arise if you do not follow it correctly.”

Zara’s parent company, Inditex, was quick to respond. In a statement, the company says, “The T-shirt mentioned in this petition was pulled from our online store a few weeks ago now and we are currently confirming that it is not for sale in our stores either… We sincerely regret that this case might be interpreted as a trivialization of celiac disease, the absolute opposite of our intentions.”